Blogs LM Net Resopnse

"I made a blog for the fourth graders with one entry for each book that was nominated for an Iowa Children's Choice Award. The idea is that the students can then discuss the books online. To help give them some focus with their answers I wanted to have some questions. I knew they had been studying making connections to their readings within the Text to Self; Text to Text; and Text to World framework. I asked them to respond to the book they had read within one of those frameworks. I now think that was too difficult. They probably could answer the questions if I gave them appropriate support, but with over twenty books and such limited time, that's very unlikely to happen. So I'm looking for a few easier generic questions that I can ask. I'd also like the questions to be engaging and attractive for the students. That's attractive as in questions that will attract students to respond to them. I've thought of letting them write whatever they want, but I'm concerned that the lack of focus will encourage them to write blase summaries or responses. If anyone has suggestions as to what questions I might ask, I would like to read them. I will post a hit."



I like this question because it gave me an idea of how to create a learning space for my own students taking part in the Reading Link Challenge. I will also create a blog to encourage discussion around the books selected in this program for grades 4/5 students. I think it will be a common platform for us to use at our meetings and could help provide a structure for them.

I see two issues with this particular blog that I will make suggestions for.

Firstly, the scope of the project sounds too big. 20 books is a lot. I would narrow it down to 5 or 6 titles if possible. This will work well for the RLC as there are only 6 books in the set. 

Secondly the questions appear to be vague. I would consider questions that are more interesting and encourage creative thinking and problem solving. 

What is the main problem in the story and is it resolved to your liking? 
Who do you consider to be the protagonist or the antagonist and why? 
How would you create your own ending of the story to help fix the problem? 
Did you like the setting this story took place in or would you change it to another place and why? 
Were you satisfied with the conclusion of the story? Why or why not? 
Did this story make you think of something similar in your life?
What in your opinion is the most exiting part?
What made it so exciting?

Perhaps choosing two different questions for each of the books would allow choice and creativity for the student response.